Status quo continues in Doklam, says India on new Chinese activity

New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) India on Friday said there are “no new developments” at the face-off site and its vicinity in Doklam along the India-China border and status quo continues, after reports that China is engaged in construction activity around 10 km away from the site.

“We have seen recent press reports on Doklam. There are no new developments at the face-off site and its vicinity since the August 28 disengagement,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

“The status quo prevails in this area. Any suggestions to the contrary is incorrect,” it said.

Fresh construction activities by China, around 10 to 12 km away from the face-off site in Doklam were reported, leading to the opposition to question the government over the situation.

Government sources said that the current construction is well within Chinese territory and not on any disputed land, and it was not for India to interfere in it.

India and China were involved in an over 70-day stand off in the Doklam area, close to the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction from June 16 to August 28 after a construction party of China’s People’s Liberation Army was stopped by the Indian Army from building a road in the area.

While India and Bhutan maintained that China had violated status quo at the tri-junction area, Beijing claimed that it was Chinese territory.

The imbroglio ended just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in the first week of September for the BRICS Summit.

According to sources, the understanding reached at the time of disengagement was that China will stop the road construction work.